Artificial bait



Dec. 30, 1930. w. G. KUTZ 1,786,563

ARTIFICIAL BAIT Filed June 15, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor G KUTz ARTIFICIAL BAIT Dec. 30 1930' Filed June 15, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lm M 6 1 W Patented Dec. 30, 1930 PATENT OFFICE WALTER G. KUTZ,

OF TOLEDO, OHIO ARTIFICIAL .BAIT

Application filed June 13,

This invention relates to an improved artificial bait in the form of an imitation minnow which is characterized by a structural. arrangement of details, serving to define an article which is natural and life-like in its actions when drawn through the water, weedless, and susceptible of fulfilling the requirements of an accessory of this class in a highly practical manner.

Briefly, the improved article has reference to a body which is distinguishable by an internal hard rubber frame surrounded by a compressible and somewhat soft rubber casing, having a configuration to represent a minnow.

end of the body, a flapping tail on the opposite end, and a concealed and pocketed hook on the top of the tail end portion of the body.

In carrying the invention into efiect, 1

have evolved and produced a simple and economical construction, which prevents bubbling while travelling through the water, avoids objectionable snagging by way of the concealed hook arrangement and possesses other advantageous features which render the construction adaptable for the purposes intended.

Referring now to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a minnow constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same. Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical section. Figure 4 is a horizontal section, on the line H of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a front end elevation with the head removed.

Figure 6 is a transverse vertical section on the line 6-6 of Figure 3.

Figure 7 is an inside view observing the inner end of the movable head.

In the drawings, it will be observed that the body comprises a rigid frame generally designatedby the reference character 8 and this includes an enlargement 9 atits front,

and a longitudinal partition piece extending therefrom. This piece is of the longitudinal shape observed in Figure 3 and is fashioned as at 11 and 12 to provide a portion of the tail and to define an end wall of the pocket 13. The casing 14 is of flexible or compressible There is a pivoted head on the fore f 1929. Serial N0. 370,631.

rubber of appropriate rigidity, which is capable of maintaining a predetermined shape, representing the body portion of a minnow, fish or the like. This is so made as to define the side walls of the aforesaid pocket 13-and 51?? to also define the front wall 15. Thus, the pocket is made of a depth to conceal the hook 16 and the shank of the hook is fastened as at 17 in the bottom of the pocket or rather to the partition member 10. The reference character 18 merely designates an outwardly pressing spring which maintains the upper part of the casing in proper shape and thus allows it to be compressed to make the catch. The head 19 is of the configuration shown and includes a line eye bolt 20, to which the line (not shown) is attached to draw the bait through the water. The head is made as at 21 to provide gills which cooperate with the bevelled end portions 22 of the part 9. This part 9 carries eye bolts 23, which are connected with a pivot pin 24, carried by the head. The tail is represented by the reference character 25 and is provided with weights 26 appropriately embedded therein to insure the deslired flapping and life-like action of the tai The features of the invention are the collapsible rubber body, the hard rubber frame anchoring the hook which is concealed in the pocket, the flexible tail portion, and the movable head portion. These features cooperate in producing a distinctively new type of minnow.

It is thought however, that persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the same, after considering the invention in connection with the drawings. Therefore a more lengthy description is regarded unnecessary.

Minor changes in the shape, size and re-arrangement of details may be resorted to, in actual practice, if desired.

'1 claim:

As a new product of manufacture, an artificial baitcomprising a body portion including a rigid-frame having an enlargement at one end defining the forward end portion of the body and having a right angularly extending longitudinal partition member, a

compressible rubber casing attached to the enlargement and extending rearwardly over the partition member in spaced relation to the upper and lower sides thereof and in abutting engagement with the longitudinal side edges of said partition member and defining the intermediate and rear portions of the body and the tail, said casing cooperating with said partition member in forming a pocket, a hook concealed in said pocket, springmeanscarried by the enlarged end portion of the frame and bearing against the adjacent portion of the casing to yieldingly urge the same outwardly, eye bolts carried by said enlarged portion, and a head including a pivot pin pivotally connected with said eye bolts, said head being movable in a horizontal plane with respect to the body portion.

In testimony whereof T aflix my signature.

WALTER G. KUTZ. 

